Since 1993 the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of advancing trade and business relations between the US and the Republic of Uzbekistan. AUCC prides itself in catering to the needs of our members, providing them with a platform to interact with policy makers in the US and the Republic of Uzbekistan and ensuring that bilateral commercial relations continue to be on the governments' top agenda.

For the last twenty years AUCC has been a vigorous advocate of the views of the business community to ensure that private sector positions are considered during the development of policies that impact American businesses and the future of U.S.-Uzbekistan relations.

We are delighted that today AUCC is a well-known organization that is recognized for its strength and ability to work closely with a great number of partner organizations. AUCC enjoys excellent working relations with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbek ministries, associations and organizations as well as the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. AUCC also coordinates its efforts with a great number of international financial institutions, business councils and other professional organizations.

If your company is interested in joining AUCC, please contact our office at 202-509-3744 or info@aucconline.com. We invite you to be part of our organization and participate in our activities and events.

Established in 1993, the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC) is a private, non-profit trade association representing interests of U.S. businesses ranging in size from small private enterprises to large, multinational corporations conducting business in Uzbekistan.

Our Mission: To advocate the views of the business community to ensure that private sector positions are considered during the development of key policies that impact American businesses and the future of U.S.-Uzbekistan relations.

Our Objective: To serve the needs of its members by strengthening commercial relations between the United States and Uzbekistan.

Practical issues of the next meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the CIS were discussed by representatives of Uzbek Foreign Minister and Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Vladimir Garkun, the press service of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic reported.

The next meeting of the Council of CIS is scheduled for early April in Tashkent.

CIS Council is one of the highest bodies of the CIS, which is based on the decisions of the Council of heads of state, the Council of heads of government of the Commonwealth of coordinating foreign policy of states - members, including their activities in international organizations.

Decision of the Council of heads of state and heads of government is based on recommendations of the CFM.

Leadership of the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense David Sedney yesterday, Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan said on Wednesday.

According to the report, views were exchanged on individual issues of Uzbek-U.S. relations and international and regional issues.

The meeting was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan George Krol.

Uzbekistan and the United States cooperate in resolving the situation in Afghanistan and its socio-economic rehabilitation.

In accordance with the intergovernmental Uzbek-U.S. agreement signed in March 2012, Uzbekistan will provide the International Security Assistance Force with opportunity of air transit of cargo and U.S. personnel through Uzbekistan after withdrawal of ISAF troops from Afghanistan, scheduled for 2014.

Uzbekistan Аirways Technics of national airline Uzbekistan Havo Yollari participated at the Eighth international exhibition "Technical maintenance and repair of aviation equipment in Russia and CIS". The exhibition was held in Moscow on 20-21 February. The exhibition was attended by 90 companies, including Uzbekistan Аirways Technics. Technical maintenance and repair is one of key segments of civil aviation, which ensures that airplanes are in good condition. The Russian event attracted key players of the technical maintenance and repair of aviation equipment sector, as well as airlines, state bodies, experts, and others. Uzbekistan Аirways Technics has right to conduct maintenance and repair works of Boeing and Airbus airplanes. The exhibition serves as platform for attraction of new clients.

Almalyk Mining and Metallurgy Combinate (AGMK) announced a tender within the construction of mine on gold production in Tashkent region. The starting price of the tender is US$18.9 million.

RIA Novosti reported quoting source in the company that tender was announced for driving of the vertical shaft of the mine field Samarchuk in Kyzylalma deposit on "turnkey" bases. The bids are accepted until 26 March and the results of the competition will be announced in April.

The project cost is US$74 million. The project envisages construction of underground mine at Samarchuk field on the base of existing Kyzylalma deposit. The capacity of mine will be 200,000 tonnes of ores a year. The project will be implemented within two years.

The project will be financed due own resources of AGM for US$35 million, loan of Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan - US$14.2 million and loans of Uzbek banks - US$24.8 million.

AGMK is only producer of copper in Uzbekistan. It also produces 90% of silver, produced in Uzbekistan, and 20% of gold.

Central Asia will outperform other Eurasian regions in 2013, although growth is slowing, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

"In most of Central Asia, economic growth continued decelerating in response to the global economic slowdown, combined with one-off exogenous factors (including poor agricultural harvests and a gold mine strike in the Kyrgyz Republic)," said the EBRD in its 2013 outlook for the emerging economies in the wider Europe-Asia region that it covers."Turkmenistan continues to experience a buoyant economic expansion with GDP growth of 14.7% in 2011 and around 11% in 2012, driven by large public construction projects and increased gas exports to China and Iran," said the EBRD....Kazakhstan (6% GDP growth) and Uzbekistan (7%) are also expected to post impressive growth compared to their regional counterparts, although external factors will likely dampen the exuberance of most Central Asian economies.But there are signs that the wider region is bottoming out and it will lift growth across the wider geographical area. "Growth in the transition region continued to slow down in the third quarter of 2012, but the deceleration is showing signs of bottoming out," said the EBRD. "We estimate that GDP growth in the transition region has dropped to 2.6% last year from 4.6% cent in 2011 and will moderately rise to 3.1% this year. Downside risks to the outlook have continued to recede as the likelihood of further deterioration of the Eurozone crisis diminishes."

Keeping unemployment in check Most importantly, unemployment levels in Central Asia remain in single-digits, compared to other places in the wider Eurasian region.Unemployment in places like Tajikistan (2.5%) and Kazakhstan (5.3%) are manageable, compared to the high double-digits joblessness rates in emerging South Eastern Europe states and Central European economies.

With a full day of timely business sessions, and other activities, the "Eighth Annual Silk Road Conference" again is scheduled in Chicago, Illinois, USA, on Friday May 17,2013.

The Conference will be held at the Chicago Kent School of Law Conference Center at 565 West. Adams Street, in Chicago, and will be highlighted by a morning networking session, exhibits, ethnic gourmet lunch, field trips, social events, and "One-on-One" business meetings.

Representatives from government and business will discuss various business aspects during country panel discussions. Focus will be on Azerbaijan, China, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan.

Organized by the Central Asian Productivity Research Center, which has been involved in projects both in the US and in Central Asia for more than a decade, focuses on economic development programs such as entrepreneurship and small business development in nations along the Silk Road and neighboring regions.

The conference is supported by the Business school of Northern Illinois University, in DeKalk, Illinois, and School of Business at Hacettepe University in Ankara Turkey.

The "Fourth Annual Energy Values Conference" sponsored by the Center for Energy and Values Issues and Northern Illinois University, is scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday, May 15 and 16 2013.